I’m delighted that two of my colleagues at Ave Maria University, both philosophers, have added their voice to the ongoing debate about the role of true philosophy as a path to Truth.
Barry David responded thus:
Certainly Leo XIII’s Aeterni Patris (a watershed document in asserting the value of Thomistic philosophy) and, in a less obvious way, John Paul II’s Fides et Ratio make claims that Thomistic philosophy is, in key respects, normative and/or exemplary. The Church thinks much the same about elements of ‘Augustinian’ philosophy, but less so than of Thomistic philosophy.
I don’t have the time right now to scroll through those documents (and there are other documents as well) to find relevant passages. However, those are places to look.
And here are the comments of Steven Long:
If it is a question of the Church’s estimation of the thought of Augustine and Thomas, it is like asking how one knows the sun is hot: the macro phenomena are sufficient to make the case.
Of course, philosophically, the fellow needs to engage with these authors intellectually to benefit from them.
@Steven Long:
I never questioned the Church’s estimation of the thought of Augustine and Thomas. This will be my last defense against spurious attacks on me by people who apparently have not read what I’ve written, and are posting to multiple threads. I’ve never seen anything like this.
Mr. Pearce, I consider your behavior in this matter unconscionable. The average poster doesn’t have time to go through the entirety of the archives to defend his good name, yet you’ve posted attacks on me, with support from your friends, on multiple threads within the site.
I wouldn’t treat anyone in such a fashion, and will no longer deal with a site that does.